Tip-proof coaster



Jan. 27, 1970 w, G, LARS N 3,491,976

TIP-PROOF COASTER Filed Feb. 13, 1967 l N v E NTO 12 M4 me 6 ./wso/v ATTOIZNE Y United States Patent 3,491,976 TIP-PROOF COASTER Walter G. Larson, 1021 17th St., Rockford, II]. 61108 Filed Feb. 13, 1967, Ser. No. 615,701 Int. Cl. A45f /00; A47b 43/04 US. Cl. 248346.1 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The tip-proof coaster has a plurality of upstanding lugs integrally attached to a flat preferably circular coaster base at points disposed equidistantly from the center of the base and spaced equidistantly circumferentially. The free upper ends of the lugs are flexed outwardly with the insertion of a cup, bottle or the like between the lugs, and the latter frictionally grip the sides of the container which has its lower end resting on the base. The coaster base, which is of large radius in relation to the bottom of the cup, so as to resist over-turning, may rest on a table by itself as a coaster or may be attached to the top of an attaching clip having means for clamping the base to the marginal edge of a table, stand or the like.

This invention relates to a holder for a container, such as a bottle, tumbler, cup, glass or the like, and more particularly to a holder capable of functioning as a coaster for preventing the marring of the surface of furniture and also for stabilizing the container against overturning, and also adapted to be attached by a clip to the edge portion of a table to provide more secure support for the container and at the same time hold the table cloth in place.

Accordingly, the general object of the invention is to provide a holder which grips and holds a cup or the like against overturning, yet which is of a simple and economic construction.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a holder having a coaster base of adequate diameter having integral upstanding elongated flexible lugs with upper free ends to grip the sides of the cup or the like inserted between the lugs and hold the cup firmly against tipping relative to the coaster.

A further object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive clip and coaster combination which can be applied to the marginal edge portion of a table or stand to receive and hold a cup more securely against overturning and spilling its contents, the clip also acting to hold a table cloth in place.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view on a smaller scale showing my invention used as a coaster;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view nearly full size of a combined coaster and holding clip embodying the novel features of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a plan view taken on the line 33 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a bottom and partial sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

3,491,976 Patented Jan. 27, 1970 ice As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, the invention is embodied in a coaster 10 for stabilizing a paper cup, 'bottle or the like against overturning, comprising a coaster base 11 serving either as a separate coaster as in FIG. 1 to prevent marring of the surface of a piece of furniture with water and other marks or to be used in combination with a holding clip fastenable to the edge of a table to serve the double purpose of firmly holding the coaster to prevent overturning of the cup and at the same time hold the table cloth in place. The coaster base is in the form of a generally flat disc of adequate diameter in relation to the diameter of the cup or other article to be held thereon so as to minimize the danger of the cup being overturned when the base is used as a separate coaster. It has an upper face 12 with a raised ridge or rib 14 extending circumferentially about the base adjacent its outer rim 15 serving to retain moisture.

In accordance with the present invention a plurality of flexible resilient upstanding elongated lugs 16 are rigidly attached to the base 12 and are long enough to reach about halfway up the sides of a cup 17 and disposed in a manner to frictionally grip the sides of a cup, shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2, when the latter is inserted into the socket defined in the space above the base and between the lugs. In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the upper free ends 18 of the elongated lugs are disposed at approximately the same radius relative to the center of the base but slightly radially inwardly relative to the lower ends 19 of the lugs, to insure better gripping characteristics, and also increase the range of sizes of cups that can be accommodated, because the larger the diameter of the circle enclosed by the lower ends of the lugs, the wider the range of cup sizes that can be accommodated and it is no objection at all that the upper ends of the lugs must be flexed radially outwardly upon insertion of a cup between said lugs, and the farther they are flexed the better they grip. The cup is stabilized against overturning when the base is used as a separate coaster as in FIG. 1, because the diameter of the coaster base is considerably larger than the diameter of the cup base inserted between the lugs 16, as, for example 3%" for the coaster base diameter as compared to 1 for the cup base, for nearly a 2 to 1 ratio, and the cup is supported high enough on all sides by the lugs 16 to eliminate any likelihood of tipping relative to the base.

In the present instance, the three upstanding elongated lugs 16 and the base 11 are integrally formed by molding of plastic, such as polyethlene, to provide a low cost holder. The lugs 16 are evenly spaced in a radial direction from the center of the base both at their upper and lower ends, with the lugs slanted radially inwardly toward their upper ends. The three lugs are spaced evenly circumferentially of base 11 and are spaced radially inwardly relative to the retaining rib 14. Herein, each of the lugs is of a relatively uniform cross-sectional thickness throughout its length. To facilitate gripping the nearly cylindrical or frusto-conical outer side of the cup, the inner sides 20 of the lugs are preferably formed with arcuate surfaces transversely thereof. This gives surface to surface contact with the side of the cup or other container as distinguished from only line contact, thereby improving the holding action. The outer sides 21 of the lugs are also shown as of arcuate shape. The arcuate crosssection of the lugs is of importance not only for the better holding action derived by the surface to surface contact mentioned before but also because:

(1) These lugs are molded integral with the base 12 and if made flat might sooner or later crack and break off at the junction with the base if all or most of the deflection of these lugs had to be assumed at that point, whereas with the arcuate section, there is virtually no deflection at the lower ends of the lugs, practically all of the deflection being assumed in the length of the lugs above their junction with the base, as seen in dotted lines in FIG. 2, and

(2) Due to the arcuate section of the lugs, they are stiffer and require greater force to deflect them outwardly and they accordingly apply greater holding pressure on the cup or other container set therebetween.

Moisture condensing or spilled on the sides of the cup 17 will flow down the side of the cup and the annular rib 14 serves to retain such moisture accumulating n the coaster base, and this moisture can be wiped off with a napkin so as not to Wet the table cloth or get onto the surface of the table beneath the coaster base.

As shown at in FIGS. 2-4, the coaster may be attached by glue or cement to a generally C-shaped clip for use outdoors, as on patios and at picnics, where there is a greater likelihood of a light weight paper or plastic cup being overturned by wind. Under those conditions it is also important to have the clip to hold the table cloth down. It even prevents upsetting of a cup or bottle when someone reaches past the standing cup or bottle and brushes against it. Picnic and patio tables are often also much less steady and more easily jarred, especially when active children are about. Hence, the need for a clip on the coaster. In the present instance, the clip is also preferably molded from a suitable plastic like polyethylene or Cycolae to afford an inexpensive clip capable of being mass produced.

To facilitate location and attachment of the clip 25 to the coaster base 11, it is preferred to provide a tongue and groove connection between an upper leg 26 of the clip and the underside of the base. In the present instance, a groove 28 is formed on the underside of the base between parallel ribs 29 and 30 which are spaced apart to receive and engage the longitudinal sides of the upper clip leg. A depending leg 32 is integrally attached to the upper leg at right angles thereto and is disposed vertically beneath the outer rim 15 of the base, but may be located spaced outwardly from said rim, if preferred. The upper leg extends radially inwardly relative to the depending leg and terminates at an inner end 33 disposed at or near the center of the base 11.

The bottom wall 34 of the grooves 28 and the central area 35 on the underside of the base are in the same horizontal plane. Outer, arcuate segments 36 are formed on the underside of the base along its peripheral edge between the groove ribs 30, and these segments extend downwardly from the plane of the central area 35. The undersides of the ribs 30 and segments 36 terminate in a common horizontal plane to rest on the table or support for the holder when used as a separate coaster. The upper clip leg 26 is preferably of a thickness in relation to the depth of the grooves 28 to fit within the groove 28 and allow the ribs 29 and 30 to rest on the supporting surface of a table, stand or the like.

To permit the clip to be attached to the base in any one of a number of orientations, it is preferred to provide four grooves 28 in the base, each at right angles to one another. The upper leg 26 of the clip may be disposed in any One of the four grooves and, if desired, may be moved inwardly to bridge a pair of diametrically opposite grooves. In the present instance, the clip is packaged with the base, but as a separate entity from the base, and the user, at his option, may glue, cement or otherwise secure the upper clip leg 26 to the base.

To afford the clamping pressure, the spring clip is formed with a flexible clamping leg 38 which is flexed downwardly, when the marginal edge of a table T and table cloth C is inserted between the underside of the base and an upper free end 39 of the clamping leg. The clamping leg 38 is integrally attached to the depending clip leg 32 by a horizontal portion 40 from which the clamping leg extends upwardly and outwardly toward the rim 15 of the coaster base 11. The free end 39 of the clamping leg is downwardly curved and is disposed beneath and spaced from the upper leg 26 and the coaster base. When the marginal edge of a table, stand or the like is thicker than the distance between the free end 39 and underside of the base, and when the table edge is inserted between the latter elements, the free clip end 39 flexes downwardly, as shown by the dotted line positioned of the free end in FIG. 2. The flexed clip end exerts an upward clamping or gripping force to hold the base against sliding movement. To facilitate the frictional gripping, transverse serrations 44 are formed on the underside of the upper clip leg 26 to frictionally grip the table cloth and/ or the upper side of the table.

In view of the foregoing it will be seen that the coaster 10 when used alone, grips the container between a plurality of upstanding lugs and the wide base 11 stabilizes the container against overturning while functioning as a coaster. Moreover, a flexible retaining clip 25 may be employed to grip the marginal edge of a table cloth and/or table or the like to more firmly secure the coaster with its container against overturning.

While a preferred embodiment has been shown in the drawings and description herein, it is not intended to limit the invention by such disclosure, but rather, it is intended to cover all modifications and alternate constructions coming within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A holder for holding a cup or the like, comprising a horizontal imperforate base of molded plastic material serving as a coaster and supporting the bottom of the cup, and having a plurality of flexible and resilient elongated substantially straight lugs molded integral at their lower ends with the base and extending upwardly therefrom to engage the outside of the cup to a height of aproximately halfway up and spaced evenly circumferentially from one another in a circle in concentric relation to the base, said lugs being of channel form in transverse cross-section to conform to the sides of the cup and also to reinforce said lugs to resist deflection so as to apply a correspondingly increased pressure resiliently on the sides of a cup held therebetween, said lugs being slanted inwardly toward one another so as to require wider spreading when a cup is inserted therebetween and thereby provide a still firmer grip, the wider spacing of the lower ends of the lugs also increasing the range of sizes of cups or other containers that can be accommodated in the space between the lugs, and said lugs being flexible radially outwardly to receive a cup therebetween and apply a clamping pressure resiliently on the sides of the cup inserted between the lugs and resting on the base, the base being of apreciably larger dimensions than the circle of said lugs to reduce likelihood of tipping under lateral pressure.

2. The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said base has an upwardly projecting marginal rim portion molded integral therewith for retaining moisture on top of said base.

3. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said lugs are of substantially uniform thickness throughout and of arcuate form in transverse cross-section, the arcs being struck on a radius substantially equal to that of the circle of said lugs, to provide substantially surface to surface contact with the rounded sides of a cup placed therebetween.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6 FOREIGN PATENTS 356,802 7/1922 Germany. 102,182 11/ 1916 Great Britain. 315,597 7/ 1929 Great Britain. 336,949 4/ 1959 Switzerland.

ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner FRANK DOMOTOR, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

